Ultrasound medical instrument having a medical ultrasonic blade

Abstract

An ultrasound medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade having a proximal blade portion and a distal blade portion. The distal blade portion bends more easily than does the proximal blade portion. A user-actuated articulated sheath surrounds a portion of the medical ultrasonic blade. The distal blade portion includes a distal end portion adapted to contact and ultrasonically treat patient tissue.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising an ultrasonic blade, wherein the ultrasonic blade comprises:
 a distal blade segment;   a proximal blade segment; and   an intermediate blade segment, wherein the intermediate blade segment is coupled to the distal blade segment at a first joint, and wherein the intermediate blade segment is coupled to the proximal blade segment at a second joint.   
     
     
         12 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the first joint comprises a dowel press fit. 
     
     
         13 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 12 , wherein the second joint comprises a dowel press fit. 
     
     
         14 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 12 , wherein the second joint comprises a ball-and-socket joint. 
     
     
         15 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the ultrasonic blade defines a resonant longitudinal wavelength, wherein the intermediate blade segment defines an intermediate blade segment length, and wherein the intermediate blade segment length is less than ½ of the resonant longitudinal wavelength. 
     
     
         16 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 15 , wherein the intermediate blade segment length is less than ⅛ of the resonant longitudinal wavelength. 
     
     
         17 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the proximal blade segment consists essentially of titanium or nitinol. 
     
     
         18 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the distal blade segment comprises a first portion defining a first transverse area and a second portion defining a second transverse area, wherein the first transverse area is larger than the second transverse area, and wherein the second portion is distal to the first portion. 
     
     
         19 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 11 , wherein a distal blade segment comprises a distal blade segment transverse area, wherein the proximal blade segment comprises a proximal blade segment transverse area, wherein the intermediate blade segment comprises an intermediate blade segment transverse area, and wherein the intermediate blade segment transverse area is smaller than the distal blade segment transverse area and the proximal blade segment transverse area. 
     
     
         20 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 11 , further comprising a sheath surrounding the ultrasonic blade. 
     
     
         21 . A surgical ultrasonic blade, comprising
 a distal blade segment;   a proximal blade segment; and   an intermediate blade segment, wherein the intermediate blade segment is coupled to the distal blade segment at a first joint, and wherein the intermediate blade segment is coupled to the proximal blade segment at a second joint.   
     
     
         22 . The surgical ultrasonic blade of  claim 21 , wherein the first joint comprises a dowel press fit. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical ultrasonic blade of  claim 22 , wherein the second joint comprises a dowel press fit. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical ultrasonic blade of  claim 22 , wherein the second joint comprises a ball-and-socket joint. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical ultrasonic blade of  claim 21 , wherein the surgical ultrasonic blade defines a resonant longitudinal wavelength, wherein the intermediate blade segment defines an intermediate blade segment length, and wherein the intermediate blade segment length is less than ½ of the resonant longitudinal wavelength. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical ultrasonic blade of  claim 25 , wherein the intermediate blade segment length is less than ⅛ of the resonant longitudinal wavelength. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical ultrasonic blade of  claim 21 , wherein the proximal blade segment consists essentially of titanium or nitinol. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical ultrasonic blade of  claim 21 , wherein the distal blade segment comprises a first portion defining a first transverse area and a second portion defining a second transverse area, wherein the first transverse area is larger than the second transverse area, and wherein the second portion is distal to the first portion. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical ultrasonic blade of  claim 21 , wherein a distal blade segment comprises a distal blade segment transverse area, wherein the proximal blade segment comprises a proximal blade segment transverse area, wherein the intermediate blade segment comprises an intermediate blade segment transverse area, and wherein the intermediate blade segment transverse area is smaller than the distal blade segment transverse area and the proximal blade segment transverse area. 
     
     
         30 . An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising an ultrasonic blade, wherein the ultrasonic blade comprises:
 a first blade portion;   a second blade portion; and   a third blade portion, wherein the third blade portion is intermediate the first blade portion and the second blade portion, wherein the third blade portion is coupled to the first blade portion at a first joint, and wherein the third blade portion is coupled to the second blade portion at a second joint.